Vacuum-producing apparatus



il 5 192 1,623,083 Apr 7 I c. F. AMES A l VACUUM PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheetl Jig@ .5.5

Aprll 5, 1927. C. F AMES VACUUM PRoDUcING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22. 1925 daim Patented Apr.` s, 1927. y

UNITED STATESk y 1,623,083., PATENT OFFICE. e'

CHARLES F. AMES, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, `ASSIGFI'OR 0F ONE-FIFTH T0 ALPHONSE H. E. BERCHEM AND ONE-FIFTH TO HARRY S. SCHANCK, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VAGUUM-PRODUCING APPARATUS.

Application led October 22, 1925. Serial No.. 64,086.

This invention relates' to a vacuum-pro-l ducmg apparat-us for use more particularly in connection with or as a part of a vacuum steam heating system for the purpose of eifectipg the removal of fluid accumulatmns,

as air and water of condensation, from the radiators, and progressively delivering the surplus oraccumulated water to a boiler feed 1 pipe or the like. l0 The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of simple, durable and eicient construction whereby a vacuum or partial -v vacuum. effective to exhaust the air and the effective capacity thereof can be variedto adapt .it to different. requirements of service.

With these and other objects in view my invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts' which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

v In the drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a vacuum producing apparatus embodyl ing a preferred form of my invention. p

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the apparatus, as on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section .of one end of the tank, as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a tank -upporting standard, as on the line 4 4 of 1g. 1. Fig5 is a horizontal section of the apparatus, as on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1l l Fig. 7 is a similar section, as on the line Fig.`8 is a like section, as on the line 8 8 of Flg. 1. A

. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a twin rotor centrifugal pump hereinafter referred to. Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a paratus.

appear.

horizontally-disposed tank supported by two spaced-apart standards 11, 12, rising from a suitable bed 13. This 'tank is preferably a cast-iron structure divided into two capacious compartments 14, 15 by means of a verticalv artition or bafiie 16 which terminates at a' efined level below the top of the tank,. as clearly seen in Fig. 1. This baie may be castintegral withthe tank or be a separate member properly mounted therein. The compartment 14 constitutes a primary chamber for the reception and se aration of air and water ofl condensation withdrawn from a vacuum steam heating system, and the compartment 15 constitutes va secondary 70 chamber into which the water contents of.`

the chamber 14 overiiows as rapidly as the added water of condensation raises "the level of the liquid above the to of the baiile. The tank is provided above t e chamber 14 with a filler hole 17 through which, preparatory to. the operation of the apparatus, make-up -Y water can be supplied to the chambers until level with the top of the baffle, and the tank is also provided with a suitably-disposed vent cap 17 for the escape of the air which is delivered from the heating systemv to the chamber 14 during the operation of the ap- The tank 'is preferably equipped at one end with a water gauge 18 which, bein@ suitably connected wlth the chamber 14,

'1n icates the water level in the latter.

The chambers 14, 15 are independently connected with suitable centrifugal pumps, or pump units, operative toeffect a circulation of water through the chamber 14 and also to withdraw the water from the chamber 1 5 and deliver it to a boiler feed pipe, as 19. The` circulation path for the chamber' 14 includes an e]ector or'ejectors 20 having operative communication with the return line 21 from a vacuum steam heating system, so that the energy of the water in its passage through the ejector `or ejectors is effective to create and maintain 1n the 100 return line a partial vacuum sufficient to remove the accumulations of air A and .water of condensation from the system and discharge them into the chamber 14, as will presently In the particular construction herein illustrated two twin rotor centrifugal pumps A,

B are employed, eachof which pumps in, cludes an element operative to establish the circulation through the chamber 14, 'and anA 9 element operative to remove the water from the chamber 15; but it is to be understood that separate pumps, or a single twin pump, may be employed, if desired, without departure from my invention. In any case the number or the capacity of the pumps will de end upon the requirements of the system.

ince the construction of the twin rotor pump herein illustrated forms the subject of a separate application for patent it needs no detailed description herein; Suiiice it to say that each pump comprises two rotors or impellers 22, 23, oi' proper relative capacity for their respective duties, mounted on a common shaft 2 4 which is driven by a suitable motor 25. The pump housing 26 is a structure in which are formed the respective impeller chambers 27, 28, the eyes or ingress ports 29, 30 to the respective impellers 22, 23, the inlet passages 31, 32 to the respective ports, and the discharge passages 33, 34 from the iespective impeller chambers.

Thev discharge passage 34 from the respective impeller chambers 28 of the pumps communicate with vertical conduits 35 in the standard 11, which conduits, in turn, comf municate with two longitudinally extending conduits 36 formed in the bottom of the tank at its respective sides. The conduits 36 terminate beneath the chamber 14, and respectively communicate with ejectors 20 which comprise conical jet nozzles 37 entering the lower laterally perforated ends of upstanding combining tubes 38 supported in the tank structure. These tubes 38 rise within the chamber 14 and discharge at or above the normal level of the water contained in such chamber; the basal or inlet portions of the tubes being in communication with longitudinal conduits 39 formed in the bottom of the tank structure. These conduits 39 lead to a common transverse connecting passage` 40 at one end of the tank, and to this passage is operatively connected, throughan interposed combined check valve 41 and strainer structure 42, the return line 21 from the system to be exhausted. The passage 40 communicates with the conduits 39 through ports 43, provided with suitable hand valves 43 which are mounted in the adjacent end head of the tank and are operative to open or close the ports, or either of them,

as desired.

. and through the chamber 14 is effected.

The inlet passages 31 to the respective imvertical conduit 44 in the standard 11 which Yconduit leads to a port formed in the bottom of the secondary chamber 15.

The discharge passages 33 from the impeller chambers 27 communicate with vertical conduits 46 in the standard 11, which conduits, in turn, lead to two longitudinally extending conduits 47 formed in the bottom of the tank at the respective sides of the chamber. 15, and communicating with a transverse' passage 48 at the adjacent head of the tank structure. The conduits 47 preterably communicate with the conduit 48 through ports 49, provided similarly to the ports 43 with suitable hand valves 50 which are mounted in the adjacent head of the tank and are operative to open or close the ports 49, or either of them, as desired. The boiler feed pipe A19 communicates with the passage 48 through an interposed check valve 51 preferably fitted in the adjacent head of the tank structure.

Assuming the chambers 14 and 15 to be supplied with make-up water to the level of the top of the baiiie, it will be seen that the submerged impellers-23 when in operation will eii'ect a continuous circulation ot the water contained in the chamber 14, which water is forced through the respective conduits 35, 36 and into and through the ejectors at a predetermined velocity, and escapes thence through the fiaring heads ot the tubes 38 into the upper portion of the chamber 14. The energy of the liquid in its restricted passage through the ejectors creates and maintains in the return line 21 a partial vacuum effective to withdraw the accumulations of air and water from the system and discharge them into the chamber 14 as above mentioned. Theair delivered to ,the chamber 14 escapes through the vent cap 17 in the top of the tank structure, while the water of condensation mixes with and variably increases the volume of the liquid contents of the chamber 14, as previously stated. By the provision of the adjacent secondary chamber 15 and the interposed fixed baiilc 16, the variably increasing volume of water in the chamber 14 progressively flows over the balile into the chamber 15, and a uniform water level is therefore maintained in the chamber 14 without the employment of iioat-actuated valves or other moving eontrol devices.

The surplus water flowing over the battle into the chamber 15, is constantly withdrawn from the latter by the action of thel impellers 22, and a predetermined amount of the water is caused to How through the conduits 46, 47, 48 and the check valve 51 to the boiler feed pipe 19.

The effective service of the apparatus can be readily reduced, if occasion requires, by

l the impeller chambers is provided with a l standard, vthe upper end of which opens into merely stopping one of the pumps A 'or B and closing the end ports 43, 49 at the side ofthe tank adjacent the idle pump. In that event the active pump will function to circulate the water through the active conduit 39 and its associated ejector, and water from the secondary tank will pass .through the single open port 49 into the passage 48 on Vits way to the boiler feed pipe.

The inlet or suction passage to each of suitable shut-off valve 56 by means of which the passage may be closed to permit a pump unit to be dismantled andprepaired, if necessary, without interfering with the operation of its companion unit.

The standard 12 is preferably a hollow the conduits and thus permits the water of condensation, as well as particlesf of foreign matter 'that may have escaped through the strainer 42, to drain into the standard.` This standard is provided in its' lower portion with a suitable opening 53,

and cover, to facilitate the removal of the foreign and other accumulations.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention is characterized by the employment of two independent water contaming chambers in communication with each other at a defined level, and two'centrifugal impellersin co-operative relationwith the respectivefchambers. These impellers,I either independently4 assembled in separate casings', or both contained within one casing, are each designed to handle a predetermined amount of Water; that is to say, the impeller for supplying the water to the ejector or 'exhaust nozzle has a Vpredetermined capacity at a certain velocity, and the impeller for supplying the water to the boiler feed pipe has a predetermined capacity and pressure independent of the exhaust impeller. Hence the two impellers perform their respective duties with the highest efficiency, andsince they are below the level of the chambers the i'mpellers are always supplied with water and there is no liability ofteitherypump or pump element becomin vapor bound.

-In connection with t e apparatus hereinbefore described an electric switch `52 under the operation of a. float 54 within the sec.-

ondary chamber may be readily installed toI control the operation of .ethe pumps during night service; that isto say, when the water in said lchamber drops to or belowa certain level the float operates the switch in a manner to stop the motor, and when the vwater rises to or above such level the float returns the switch toits normally operative condition and starts themotor. In addition, the

apparatus may be provided with any usual It is to be understood `that my invention is not limited to the particular details of construction herein disclosed, as the apparatus may be variously modified within the principle lof my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising primary and-secondary chambers in free communication with each other at a predetermined level, twocentrifugal pump elementsbelow the level of the chambers, inlet and outlet water circulation connections between one of said pump elements and the primary chamber, said connections including an ejector .leading to the -upper part of the chamber, and exhaust connection in communication with the ejector, and discharge connections between the other pump elementand the secondary chamber. i

2.'A vacuum producing apparatus com-f prising a tank having a' vertical baille wall therein terminating below the top ofthe tank to provide primary and secondary chambers in free communication with each other above the baffle, two centrifugal pump elements below the level of the tank, inlet and outlet water circulation connections between one of said ump element", and the primary chamber, said connections including an ejec- -tor leading to the upper part of the primary chamber, an exhaust connection inrcommunb cation with the ejector, and discharge conpump element and `communication with the ejector, and discharge connections between the other pump element andthe secondary chamber.

4. A vacuum producing apparatus com- '.prising primary and secondary chambers in free communication with each other at a predetermined level, four pump eleme'its below the level of the chambers, two conduits including a plurality of ejectors extending therefromvinto the upper portion of the primary chamber, operative connections between said conduits and the discharge passages of two of the pumpeleme'nts, respec- 125 tively, exhaust conduits leading to the inlets of the respective ejectors, a passage connecting the second-named conduits, valves cony trolling communication between said passage and the second named'conduitsrespectively, 130

operative connections between they primary` chamber and the inlet passages to the said t two pump elements, operative connections between the secondary chamber and the inlet passages to the' other two rpump elements, two conduits in communication with the sec ondary chamber and with the discharge"passages from Athe two last-named'pump ele?- ments, a second passage connectingsald last-named conduits, valves controlling com munication between the second passage and the last-named conduits, and a boilermfeed pipe in communication with saidfsecond'passage.

5. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a tank having a vertical'baille wall therein terminating below the top of the tank to provide primary and secondary chambers in free communication with each other aboveA the baille, two centrifugal pump elements below the level of the tank, water circulation connections between one of'said pump elements andthe primary chamber, said connections including a conduit located beneath the secondary chamber and leading to the primary chamber and including also an ejector leading to the upper part of the chamber, an exhaust connectifn in communication with the ejector, and discharge connections between the other' ypump element and the secondary chamber. l p

6. -A vacuum producing apparatus compiising a `tank having a vertical baiile wall therein terminating vbelow the top of the tank to provide primary and secondary chambers' 1n free communication with each other above the baiiie, four pump elements below the level of the tank, two conduitsincluding ejectors extending therefrom into the upper portion of" the primary chamber, operative connect/ions between said conduits and the discharge passages of two of the pump elements, respectively, exhaustv conduits lead ing to the inlets of the respective ejectors, a passage connecting the secondnamed conduits, valves controlling communication between said passage and the second' named conduits respectively, Op-L chamber and the inlet passages to the said two pump elements, operatlve connections betweenthe secondary chamber and the' inlet passages to the other two pump elements, two conduits in communication with the secondary chamber-and with the discharge paf*- sages from the last-named two pump elements, a second passage connecting said lastnamed conduits, valves controlling communication between thesecond passage and lthe,

last-named conduits, and a boiler feed pipe 1n communication with sald second passage.

r7. A vacuum producing apparatus com-V of OctoberV A. D. 1925.

' cnaarns r. AMES.

ferative connectionsl between the primary. 

